New pets come with lifestyle changes. Whether you were surprised with a puppy for Christmas or are looking to adopt a companion kitty, make sure you know what preparation, supplies, and time commitment you’ll need to keep your pet – and your family – happy.
The most important part of adopting a new pet is finding the right fit for your lifestyle stresses Allison Harper, animal services manager at Brenham Pet Adoption & Care Center. “A husky is not the best for an apartment,” says Harper. “It needs to run and have space.” A cat, however, would be content in small spaces.
Harper urges owners to give new pets time to adjust to their new home. Give the new pet “about three months to get in their groove,” she says. “Some animals are shy and need time to decompress from shelter life, which is stressful.” Like kids, pets thrive in structure and need time to get comfortable with a schedule. Harper suggests starting with the animal in one room and gradually allowing them access to more of the house, so they don’t get overwhelmed. Toys can help keep pets entertained and out of trouble. “Keep them busy,” says Harper. “That tends to be the hardest part. Boredom and separation anxiety cause behavior issues. Dogs are social; they want to be around people. Their pent-up energy needs a way to get out.”
Most shelters follow a similar adoption process: apply, meet the animals, and pay the adoption fee. You can look at pets online or in person at the Brenham animal shelter, and once you’ve decided to adopt, pay the $95 fee to cover their sterilization, rabies and other core vaccination, microchip, and heartworm and flea medicine, as applicable. Be sure to check with your county about animal licensing requirements.
Before you bring a new pet home, pet proof the areas to which they will have access. Put up baby gates to limit their ability to roam, and fix any holes or small spaces in the fencing. Look out for shoes, hats, kids’ toys, and any other small items a puppy might be tempted to chew and put them away. Get in the habit of keeping trash cans closed and things on countertops out of reach. Pesticides, medications, household cleaners, and some houseplants can be deadly to your pet, according to the Brenham Animal Services website. Some common poisonous houseplants include aloe vera, elephant’s ear, and lilies, but double check any plants you have already.
Also take into consideration how new pets will interact with any pets you currently have. “If you have another dog at home, you can bring it [to the Brenham Pet Adoption & Care Center] to introduce them in neutral territorial, because your dog might be taken aback when you show up with another dog in their home,” says Harper. “We’ll introduce them slowly and see how it goes because even dogs that get along with most other dogs — they’re like people: they sometimes come across one they don’t like.”
The time commitment required can vary among dogs: low-energy dogs need at least 45 minutes to an hour of your day for feeding and bathroom breaks, and high-energy dogs need more time outdoors, Harper says. Picking the right pet and preparing accordingly means you’ll be better prepared to hang onto your new companion. This is especially true if you rent: make sure your landlord allows animals before you get too attached. “When people bring pets back to us, it’s usually a time issue or medical issue, some kind of an obstacle they think they can’t get through,” says Harper. “We encourage people to reach out to us because sometimes we have resources they don’t know about. We’d rather keep a pet in a home.”
The Brenham shelter has been much emptier since more people are working from home, but there are always some animals that are looking for a new family. You can find adoptable animals in Brenham at pets.cityofbrenham.org.
